Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-13

specimen of Washington spring weather
The streets at an early hour were thronged
with eager crowds, which were increased
at noon by the closing of the executive de.
partments. The music of brass bands was
heard in every quarter.
At the business meeting of the society
held this morning, Colonel Henry Stone
of Boston, was selected as orator, and
Colonel VIM. McMichael, of New York, as
alternate. The next reunion will be held
at Chicago, which was selected as the
place, and Chickamauga week, in Septem-
Der, 1888, as the time for holding the next
reunion. The present officers of the
society were reelected for the coming
year.
THE PROCESSION.
Promptly at 11:3O O'Clock General Baird
Chief Marshal gave the signal for march
ing, and the procession started A platoon
of mounted police led the way This was
followed by General Baird and his aids,
who preceded the carriages in which were
seated Generals Sherman, Sheridan and
Rosecrans-three of the four living COM
manders of the Army of the Cumberland.
General Buell.. the remaining commander,
was unable to be present. The right of the
procession moved up III street to Eight
zenith, each organization wheeling into line
as the left ofthe preceding company passed.
From Eighteenth street the procession pro-
ceeded to Pennsylvania avenue. down
which it marched to Third street, where
the first division debouched and proceeded
down Third street to Maryland avenue,
and halted on that avenue near the monu-
ment. The second division continued its
course, and took its position on First street
at the north of the statue.
CLEvELANDs SPEECH.
After procession had arrived at the statue
and the usual exercises had been gone
through, the statue was unveiled. The
following is the Presidents address
Fetotc- Citizens; In performance of the duty as
signed to me on this occasion, hereby accept
oil behalf of the people of the United States this
complete and beautiful statue amid the inter
change OF fraternal greetings between the sur
viyors of the Army of the Cumberland and their
former foes upon the battle field. While the
Union General and the peoples President
awaited the burial of their common grief. these
magnanimOus survivors and mourning citizens
found an expression of their sorrow in the de.
termination to erect this tribute to American
greatness. Thus to-day. in its symmetry and
beauty, 1t presents sign of the animosities long
since forgotten.
The monuments and statues that multiply
through the land are fittingly illustrative of the
love and affection of our grateful people, and
are commemorative of the brave and patriotic
sacrifices in war, or fame in peaceful pursuits
or OF honor in public station. From this day
forth there shall stand at our seat of government
this statue of a distinguished citizen who in his
LIE and services combined ali these things, and
more, in American charac. er which challenges
admiration. In him we find loving tenderness
of battle, fame and distinction in our halls OF
legislation, and the highest honor and dignity
in the chief magistracy of the nation.
This stately effigy shall not fail to teach every
beholder that the source of American greatness
is confined to no condition, nor is it dependent
alone for its growth and development upon
favorable surroundings Genius, our national
life, beekons to us. Equalness and honor are
given to those i'll every sphere. and to every one
is offered the highest preferment to manly hopes
and to sturdy honest effort chastened and
consecrated by patriotic hopes and aspirations
AS long as this statue stands, let it be proudly
remembered that TO every American citizen the
way is open to fame and station until the
Moving up from higher to higher
Becomes on Fortunes browning slope
The pillar of a peoples hope,
The center of a world desire
Can we forget that it also teaches our people
a sad and distressing lesson, and the thoughtful
citizen who views its fair proportion cannot fail
to recall the tragedy of death which brought
grief and mourning into every household in the
land But while American citizenship stands
aghast and affrighted at the thought that mur-
der and assassination should lurk in the mids,
of a free people, and that it should strike down
the head of their government, a fearless search
and discovery OF the origin and hiding place OF
these hateful aud unnatural things should be
followed by the sole resolve to purge forever
from our political methods and from the opera.
ton OF our government the perveTsions and mis-
conceptions which give birth to passionate and
bloody thoughts If from this honr our admira.
ton for the bravery and the nobility of Ameri-
can manhood. and our faith in the possibilities
and opportunities of American citizenship be
renewed; if our appreciation of the blessings be.
slowed upon the Union and the love tor our
government be strengthened. and if our watch
fitness against the dangers of the mad chase
after partisan spoils be quickened, the detiica-
ton of this statue to the people of the United
States will not be in vain.
During the delivery of his address the
President was frequently interrupted by
outbursts of applause. He spoke fiuently.
and in clear voice, which was audible to
most of the vast crowd that filled the circle
before the stand When he had concluded
the band played Hail Columbia" and
Rev. T. ID. Power, who was pastor of Gen
erai Garfield's church in this city, pro-
nounced the benediction. The troops were
then dismissed and the ceremonies came to
an end.
THE STATUE is OF BRONZE,
And is the design of the sculptor, J. Q. A.
Ward, who also designed the equestrian
statue of General Thomas in this city. 1t
is ten feet six inches in hight, and repre-
sents Garfield facing the west. in the act
of delivering an address, with his right
hand resting on column and a manu-
script held in his left. Recumbent ideal
figures at each corner of the triangular
pedestal represents Student, Warrior and
Statesman, IMPLYING the three epochs of
Garfield's career. Bronze tablets above
the figures bear glove, trumpet, sword
and laurel wreath inciosingI the scales of
justice. The inscriptions upon the shaft
are placed upon three sides, as follows ::
Southwest face =" James A. Garfield
1S31-iSSl." On the southeast face
% Major General, U. S. V, Member of Con-
gress Senator and President of the United
States of America" On the north face
. Erected by his Comrades of the Society
of the Army of the Cumberland. May II,
1887"
The erection of the statue was authorized